Yes, it's been a long LONG time since appearing here outside of random drop-bys. Don't know if that's going to change anytime soon at this point either- I could go into a long tirade about working for a stodgy prick that works in Scotland, being short a couple folks in the dept, etc, etc, waaah waaaah waaaaaah, but that's not what this is all about.
This past weekend, I got a phone call at about 10pm from my sister which usually never happens, so I was immediately curious. She asked if I had heard from my mom and dad (LOL) my answer was obviously no, being the bastard of the family and all. She proceeded to tell me how mom and dad were on their way to the hospital to see my Aunt Janet, because something my Uncle Earl had died of a sudden heart attack. Totally out of the blue. Surprised by even more than the phone call, I asked her what had happened........
Quick step back: Earl was a race car driver, midgets being his hand-built specialty and he used to race on the local tracks here in the Willamette Valley, and throughout Oregon and Washington. Mostly dirt track, Friday and Saturday night specials that would draw the farming crowd into the shabby little stadiums. As my dad used to tell me, he was hell on wheels. Absolutely loved driving, and loved racing even more. Should also note that his longtime wish was that if were to ever die before my aunt, he wanted to die driving his race car. Anyway......
Apparently, as my cousin David told it, he was driving around a corner, slowed down, slumped over his steering wheel, sat back up, accelerated and crashed into the wall. Later reports indicate he was gone before he even impacted.
Not sure why I'm sitting here typing this tonight, but just thought I'd share. Yeah, it's weird to think that he's gone and won't call me a jackass or a retard anymore (really long story there). Just very sobering sometimes how quickly, and unexpectedly, folks around us can go.
Here's a link to the story from a local paper: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/UPDATE/70204007
This past weekend, I got a phone call at about 10pm from my sister which usually never happens, so I was immediately curious. She asked if I had heard from my mom and dad (LOL) my answer was obviously no, being the bastard of the family and all. She proceeded to tell me how mom and dad were on their way to the hospital to see my Aunt Janet, because something my Uncle Earl had died of a sudden heart attack. Totally out of the blue. Surprised by even more than the phone call, I asked her what had happened........
Quick step back: Earl was a race car driver, midgets being his hand-built specialty and he used to race on the local tracks here in the Willamette Valley, and throughout Oregon and Washington. Mostly dirt track, Friday and Saturday night specials that would draw the farming crowd into the shabby little stadiums. As my dad used to tell me, he was hell on wheels. Absolutely loved driving, and loved racing even more. Should also note that his longtime wish was that if were to ever die before my aunt, he wanted to die driving his race car. Anyway......
Apparently, as my cousin David told it, he was driving around a corner, slowed down, slumped over his steering wheel, sat back up, accelerated and crashed into the wall. Later reports indicate he was gone before he even impacted.
Not sure why I'm sitting here typing this tonight, but just thought I'd share. Yeah, it's weird to think that he's gone and won't call me a jackass or a retard anymore (really long story there). Just very sobering sometimes how quickly, and unexpectedly, folks around us can go.
Here's a link to the story from a local paper: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/UPDATE/70204007
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rednecks turning left. I haven't watched a good/bad dirt race in a long time